"Inthefloorofhisroomisaloosetile.Alloneneedtodoisliftthetile,andthereunderneathisaphialcontaininganointmentthatwouldhealeveryoneofhiswounds."
Itwasalltheprincessinsidethetreecoulddonottoscreamforjoy.Bythistimethewitcheshadtoldoneanotheralltheyhadtosay,soeachwentherownway.Theprincessjumpedfromthetreeandsetoutinthedawnforthecity.Atthefirstsecondhanddealersshecameto,sheboughtanolddoctorsgownandapairofspectacles,andknockedattheroyalpalace.Seeingthelittledoctorwithsuchscantparaphernalia,theservantswerentgoingtolethimin,butthekingsaid,"Whatharmcouldhedomysonwhocantbeanyworseoffthanheisnow?Lethimseewhathecando."Theshamdoctoraskedtobeleftalonewiththesickman,andtherequestwasgranted.
Findingherlovergroaningandunconsciousinhissickbed,theprincessfeltlikeweepingandsmotheringhimwithkisses.Butsherestrainedherselfbecauseoftheurgencyofcarryingoutthewitchsdirections.Shepacedupanddowntheroomuntilshesteppedonaloosetile,whichsheraisedanddiscoveredaphialofointment.Withitsherubbedtheprinceswounds,andnosoonerhadshetouchedeachonewithointmentthanthewounddisappearedcompletely.Overjoyedshecalledtheking,whocameinandsawhissonsleepingpeacefully,withthecolorbackinhischeeks,andnotraceofanyofthewounds.
"Askforwhateveryoulike,doctor,"saidtheking."Allthewealthinthekingdomisyours."
"Iwishnomoney,"repliedthedoctor."Justgivemetheprincesshieldbearingthefamilycoat-of-arms,hisstandard,andhisyellowvestthatwasrentandbloodied."Uponreceivingthethreeitems,shetookherleave.
Threedayslater,thekingssonwasagainouthunting.Hepassedthecastleintheheartoftheforest,butdidntdeigntolookupattheprincessswindow.Sheimmediatelypickedupthebook,leafedthroughit,andtheprincehadnochoicebutchangeintoacanary.Heflewintotheroom,andtheprincessturnedhimbackintoaman."Letmego,"hesaid."Isntitenoughtohavepiercedmewiththosepinsofyoursandcausedmesomuchagony?"Theprince,intruth,nolongerlovedthegirl,blamingherforhismisfortune.
Onthevergeoffainting,sheexclaimed,"ButIsavedyourlife!Iamtheonewhocuredyou!"
"Thatsnotso,"saidtheprince."Mylifewassavedbyaforeigndoctorwhoaskedfornorecompenseexceptmycoat-of-arms,mystandard,andmybloodiedvest!"
"Hereareyourcoat-of-arms,yourstandard,andyourvest!Thedoctorwasnoneotherthanmyself!Thepinswerethecrueldoingofmystepmother!"
Theprincegazedintohereyes,dumbfounded.Neverhadshelookedsobeautiful.Hefellatherfeetaskingherforgivenessanddeclaringhisdeepgratitudeandlove.
Thatveryeveningheinformedhisfatherhewasgoingtomarrythemaideninthecastleintheforest.
"Youmaymarryonlythedaughterofakingoranemperor,"repliedhisfather.
"Ishallmarrythewomanwhosavedmylife."
Sotheymadepreparationsforthewedding,invitingallthekingsandqueensinthevicinity.Alsopresentwastheprincesssroyalfather,whohadbeeninformedofnothing.Whenthebridecameout,helookedatherandexclaimed,"Mydaughter!"
"What!"saidtheroyalhost."Mysonsbrideisyourdaughter?Whydidshenottellus?"
"Because,"explainedthebride,"Inolongerconsidermyselfthedaughterofamanwholetmystepmotherimprisonme."Andshepointedatthequeen.
Learningofallhisdaughtersmisfortune,thefatherwasfilledwithpityforthegirlandwithloathingforhiswickedwife.Nordidhewaituntilhewasbackhometohavethewomanseized.Thusthemarriagewascelebratedtothesatisfactionandjoyofall,withtheexceptionofthatwretch.
(Turin)
NOTES:
"TheCanaryPrince"IlPrincipecanarino)fromRua(inArchivioperlostudiodelletradizionipopolari,Palermo-Turin,VI[1887],401),Turin.
ThisfolktalefromTurin,withitsballadlikepathos,developsamedievalmotif,whichisalsoliterary.(ButMariedeFranceslai,Yonec,isquitedifferent,beingthestoryofanadultery.)Mypersonaltoucheshereincludetheprincesyellowsuitandleggings,thedescriptionofthetransformationinaflutterofwings,thegossipofthewitcheswhotraveledtheworldover,andabitofstylisticcunning.
Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
PantheonBooks,NewYork1980
克林王&意大利童话(68)
从前，有一个国王认了一头猪做自己的儿子，人们称它为“克林王”。克林王在王宫里进进出出，平常显得很有教养，还真像一个王室人物，但它也时常故意捣捣乱，发发脾气。父亲拍着它的屁股对他说：“怎么了，你这么捣乱，有什么事吗？”
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